Label picking mechanism



June 13, 1950 R. A. CLARK, JR 2,511,565

LABEL PIcK'I NG' MECHANISM Filed Oct. 1, 1948 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 3mm Ross/27' A. CLARK, JR.

June 13, 1950 R. A. CLARK, JR 2,511,566

LABEL PICKING MECHANISM 4 Filed Oct. 1, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 AOBEAT A. CLARK J12- June 13, 1950 R. A, CLARK, JR 2,511,566

LABEL PICKING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 1, 19'48 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 floss/er A. CLARK, JR.

Patented June 13, 1950 "UNITED s TAT LABEL PICKING MECHANISM "Application October 1, 1948, Seiial No;' 52'j277 7- Claims. "1

Thlsinvention relates to a labelpickingmecha- "m'sm used in connectionwith 'an"automatic labeling machine Whereinsuch articles as bottles,'cartons, or other I containers have -'applied' to their "face" or faces the usual lab'el or advertising matter, and is directed especially'to specific improve- -'ments on thestruoture disclosed in United States patent to "C. Holmf'No. 1,901,101, issued March 14, 1933.

The general type of machine inwhich the presentim rovement is intended for use is'shown'in the atent to'Eh'vall'NoJli630fi235; issued May 24, 1927, Which'machi ne is' knov'v'n as a ""Ftraightaway 'labelerf but it is; of: course, understood that the 'same' principle which is employed in the present im'provementrihight well he. adapted for use in 'ether'types'ief' labelh'l'gimachines.

The 'main object of the-invention disclosed'in I this applieationfis thezprovi'sion of elements in "-addition' 'to those employed in the'l-lolmpatent "Wherebytwo 'labels,-:a small'one in addition to the regulation label, can be applied "simultaneously Y to theface oiaeontainer.

Another object of'theinventiorr is to' stretoh or smooth both labels to j remove any wrinkles 'or bulges -'which" are usually present in the stacked labels.

"A still "further objeet of th'e' 'present invention "resides in the I i-level manner of rreleasing the stretcher tehsion on' bothlabels just prior to their 1- ap lication to the Surface of: the article intended to be labeled.

These andoth'er objects will readily present i themselves; to thos'e sliilled in this-particular art,

"wh'en' the rfonowing specification is'read in cen- -nec'tio'n wlth the attached drallihn'gs, wherein theris shown the prferredei'nbddihientof the invention. It is further understood that certain changes --'may =beresorted to "without sacrificin *a-nyof the truespirit 6f the invention herein disclosed; so long-es the sa me falls Withirfthe'terms "of the appended claims.

In the drawings similar-characters of reference' indicate a like parts" throughout the several views'inw-hich -Flg. l is ai frdnt elevationbf the label-pioking mecnariism Fig) 2' is -a* side 'view of the mechanisin'as" seen from theleit' of'FigS 1;

Fig. 3 is a View of the picker as*'s'een' from'the "right side oi'Fig. 1;

' l-"is' a top' pl-air viewof the-picker showing "cleariy the linli (:kfihil(' l'J'.'0'nS tC)' theifiechanism for 'eperatin th label piekers;

z-Fig. 5 is :a"longitudinalwsectionalyiew=taken Jori line 55 ofF-ig'fi;

Fig. G'isia cross-sectional viewtaken on line EI5-=-6. of Fig.4;

Figs. 7 and I'7 ish'ow therelative separated; positions of the lab'eltpi'ckers When'they are'intheir uppermost pcsitiomand' while in contact wiiih the -1owermost:labels. 'Theseilabel pickers-are then ready to start .on 'theirudownward swing ;to carry the' labelto the article.

i Figs. "8 T and 58 rare 2 similar views showing the label :piokersi 'inith'eir. half :loweredz position and 'F'i'gs. 9 ande9 -zshowithe labelpickerszin their lowered positions, in wl'lich positionrit "-willbe noted that: the :pikersihave slightly approached each other resulting in a central bulging ofi the carried label.

Referring: more inidetaikto thefdrawings, I- designates the table 'or'bed'beneath which is :ailongitudinally extended 'power shaft as is clearly shown in the Rat'ent No. 1,630,235. Uponthe table'l is mountedi a bracket or framefi'which 'has'upstanding arms'3 and' l. Journalled'within bearings 5 and 6' .in 'the upper portions of the arms 3 and'4 respectively is a rockable' shaftr'l, w'hich shaft has acrankfti adapted for connection to the reciprocatory rod 9. This rod 9.is given its desired up and dowmmotiomfrom' any suitable -=source' of drive mechanismnot shown.

slidably arranged on the shaft -I is a pair of longitudinally shi'ftable f'sleeves, the one 'on the right as viewedfromFig. lfbeing designated [0, While the one to theleft bears reference numeral Extending radiallyfrom each 'ofthe sleeves -is'a lip'lZ and"tothe'*lip* I2on" the sleevein the right label picker I3"-is*attached; while thelip [2 *df the sleeve l'lfcarries 'the left labelpicker l4.

Auxiliary faces 13A, MA projecting from slides 1313, i 143 mountedwin transverse bearings provided' respectivelyin-pickers l3, l4 constitute the instrumentalitiesiorhandling the small label ad- 'yerted to above'andi'are'referredto hereinafter as"auxi1iary pickers. Stops l3C,l4C-are'provided for slides [-33, ldBrespeetively to limit the travel"thereof'for .thei'purpose hereinafter explained more in" detail. Springs 13E, ME (Fig. 1 only) of the compressiontype are lodged in recesses in their respective picker 'arms. Each spring biases its'associated slide inwardly, tending to keep stops 13B, 1413 against the outer vertical faces of their respective picker arms. In "Fig. 1 the inner verticaliaces of the auxiliary pickers are shown in abutting contact while in FigsI'l SS -and Q they areshown juxtaposed with a gap' b'etween their: faces,ra lesser gap than provided in the large pickers in order to handle the small label. This label presently in commercial use is in the order of one and one-sixteenth inch in width and height, while the large one concurrently applied is three and seveneighths inches in width. The lips [2 are provided with screw threaded openings 15 for the reception of the fastening bolts IS. The large label pickers have slots l1 within their face portions so as to receive the label holder prongs and to permit movement of the picker when in engagement with the lowermost exposed label. Similarly slots 13D, MD are provided respectively in faces l3, l4.

As will be noticed, the sleeves l and l I are not keyed directly to the shaft 1, but are connected thereto through the following construction:

Keyed to the shaft 1 are two relatively spaced arms [8, to the outer ends of which is secured in any appropriate manner a cross bar I9 and mounted on the inner face of the bar I9 is a plate 20. This plate 20 is pivotally connected to the bar H! by the center stud 2! and is held in its desired adjusted position by tightening the end studs 2222. To permit the plate 20 to swing on its pivot for the purpose hereinafter described, the bar I9 has elongated slots 23 where the end studs 2222 pass therethrough. The plate 20 is provided with two horizontally extending elongated slots 24-24 which are adapted to receive the rollers 25-25 carried by the stub shafts 2626 extending from the shiftable sleeves. It will thus be seen that when the shaft 1 is oscillated or rocked, the sleeves are likewise moved but are free to shift longitudinally of the shaft at any time.

Arranged parallel to the shaft 1 is a cross rod 21 which is suitably mounted in the upper end portion of the upstanding arms 3 and 4. Slidably mounted on this cross rod 2'! is a pair of slidable collars, the one on the right as viewed in Fig. 1 being designated 28 and the one on the left being characterized by the reference numeral 29. Both of these slidable collars have forked extensions as at 3!) which are adapted to engage in grooveways 3! arranged in the sleeves l0 and II.

Rigidly bolted to the upper end of the upstanding arm 4 is a bearing bracket 32 which provides a suitable support for the upper portion of an oscillatory shaft 33. Arranged on the upper end of the shaft 33 and secured thereto in any appropriate manner is an elongated plate or casting designated 34, which plate is centrally grooved or channeled as at 35 for the reception of slide blocks 36-35. Each of the slide blocks 36 is provided with an upstanding lug or pin 31-3'I which extends through the arcuate slots 3838 arranged in the upper surface of the plate 34. Likewise each of the slidable collars 28 and 29 are provided with upstanding pins or studs 38'38' to which the connecting rods 393 are connected at one end while their oposite portions are connected to the studs 3!-3'!. The connecting rods 3939 are retained in their connected positions through the medium of nuts, cross-pins or the like. Rotatably supported within the ends of the elongated plate or casting 34 are two screw threaded rods 4B4! which are adapted to coact with threaded openings in the slide blocks 353. The outer ends of the screw threaded rods 40 are \rovided with milled heads M-4l for easy manipulation of said rods. The screw threaded rods 40 are held within the plate or casting 3A through the employment of transversely extendfaces of the pickers are adhesively coated by the gumming mechanism shown in the prior patent. The faces of the large and auxiliary pickers then continue to the upward limit of their movement where they will come in contact with the faces of the lowermost label in each label holder. When in this position it will be appreciated that the labels will have been supplied with adhesive which is carried by the faces of the pickers and in order that the coating be evenly and uniformly distributed over the full faces of the labels, the pickers are then caused to slide away from each other. This action not only removes any existing air bubbles that may be present, but also applies the adhesive to any of the uncoated portions of the labels. Then again, this separating action of the pickers will tend to stretch or smooth the labels so as to remove any wrinkles or bulges that may be present. The relative positions of the pickers while they are in their upward limit of swing is shown in Figs. '7 and 7. From this position the pickers swing in a downward direction, the intermediate position being shown in Figs. 8 and 8 and, as will be noted, the pickers are still in separated position. When the pickers reach their lowermost position they are caused, by the mechanical action explained hereinafter, to slightly approach each other so as to relieve the tension on the labels which prevent the tearing of the same when the label grip finger comes in contact with the central portions of the labels and applies said labels to the surface of the article intended to be labeled. It will be noted in Fig. 9' that the gap between the inside vertical faces of the auxiliary pickers are much closer than those of the large pickers. It is this feature that provides the means for handling the small label concurrently with the large one. It should also be understood that the grip finger of the Eckvall patent must be modilied to cooperate with both of these label pickers. The pickers then begin their upward movement and just prior to their gum applying position they will be brought together, as shown in Fig. 1, so that the gumming roll will adhesively coat the same.

The oscillatory movements of the pickers are caused by the operations of the reciprocatory rod 9 which in turn rocks the bar member [9 carrying the plate 26 through the stub shafts 25 to the shiftable sleeves I0 and H.

The sliding movements of the pickers are caused by the oscillatory movements of the shaft 33 through the links 39 to the slidable collars 28 and 29, these collars having forked extensions cooperate with the shiftable sleeves Ill and II and thereby control the relative sliding actions of said pickers.

If for any reason the pickers do not align perfectly with each other, this can be remedied by temporarily releasing the end studs 2222 of the plate 20 and slightly moving said plate 20 about its pivot after which the studs 2222 should be again fastened.

It will be observed that the auxiliary pickers always project, due to structure and action of springs I3E, MEI, beyond the inner faces of the large ones except when both pairs have been slid together as shown in Fig. l to receive a coating of adhesive in advance of contact with the bottom labels in their respective magazines.

In case the machine is to be adjusted for handling a larger or smaller bottle, the frame structure 2 must necessarily be moved inward or outward with reference to the center line of the machine. When such an adjustment is made, it will necessarily require a slight change in the operating connections leading to the pickers. This is attended to by adjusting the slide blocks 3636 which in turn increase or decrease as the case may be the effective length or throw of the links 39-39.

From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanying drawings, the uses, advantages and operation of my invention will be readily understood by those to whom it may concern. While I have disclosed the preferred embodiment of my invention, variations thereof are possible without departure from the spirit of this invention, therefore, I wish to be limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A label picker mechanism for handling a large and a small label simultaneously, comprising a main pair and an auxiliary pair of conjointly movable pickers mounted on a common shaft, means for oscillating said shaft, and a single means for moving the companion members of each pair to effect substantial contact and separation of the juxtaposed vertical faces of one pair of said pickers in advance of the other pair during oscillating movements thereof.

2. A label picker mechanism for handling a large and a small label simultaneously, comprising a main pair of conjoint pickers mounted on a single shaft and an auxiliary picker mounted on each main picker in slidable relation thereto for transverse movement parallel to said shaft, means for oscillating said shaft, and a single means for moving the companion members of both pairs of pickers to effect substantial contact and separation of the vertical faces of the auxiliary pair of said pickers in advance of the main pair during oscillating movements thereof.

3. A label picker mechanism for handling a large and a small label simultaneously, comprising a main pair of conjoint pickers mounted on a common shaft and an auxiliary picker mounted on each of said main pickers for movement in relation thereto, means for swinging said shaft, and a single means for moving the companion members of each pair of pickers to effect contact and separation of the vertical faces of one pair of said pickers in advance of the other pair during swinging movements thereof.

4. A label picker mechanism for handling a large and a small label simultaneously, comprising a main pair of conjoint pickers mounted on a single shaft and an auxiliary picker mounted on each of said main pickers for movement in relation thereto, means for swinging said shaft, and a single means for moving the companion members of each pair of pickers to vary the space between the juxtaposed vertical faces of the pickers.

5. A label picker mechanism for handling a large and a small label simultaneously, comprising a main pair and an auxiliary pair of pickers mounted for oscillating movements on a shaft, means for oscillating said shaft, and means for sliding each pair of pickers one to the other of the respective members of each of said pairs during oscillating movements.

6. A label picker mechanism for handling two labels simultaneously, comprising a main pair and an auxiliary pair of conjoint pickers mounted on a single shaft with the inner vertical faces thereof juxtaposed, means for oscillating said shaft, and a common means for moving the companion members of each pair of pickers to vary the distance between the vertical faces of said pickers during oscillating movements thereof.

'7. A label picker mechanism for handling two labels simultaneously comprising a first pair of pickers mounted for oscillating movement, a second pair of pickers mounted for oscillating movement; means for oscillating both pairs of pickers; and means for sliding the companion members of each pair of pickers to vary the relation of one pair of said members in terms of the other pair of members during oscillating movements of said pickers.

ROBERT A. CLARK, JR.

No references cited. 

